Over the last two decades, a multitude of scientific studies by leading researchers have empirically demonstrated what we intuitively knew to be true: The benefits of prosocial behaviors and motivations in the workplace are vast and undeniable, including significant improvements in employee well-being, innovation capability, employee retention, and overall business performance. I had the great honor of interviewing one of these researchers and her colleague last week.
Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D, is the science director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, where she leads major research initiatives and co-teaches the “Science of Happiness” course, which is the world’s largest course of its kind. A UC Berkeley–trained neuroscientist, she studies how prosocial states such as compassion, gratitude, and awe support health and well-being in life and at work.
Her colleague, Kia Afcari, is the Director of Greater Good Workplaces at GGSC with over 20 years of experience helping leaders, teams, and organizations create collaborative, prosocial change across sectors. His innovative methods, coaching and facilitation credentials, TEDx talk, and award-winning culture-change work reflect his commitment to translating the science of prosociality into lasting organizational impact.
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